Following the departure of the all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 and while awaiting the arrival of the plug-in hybrid Mazda CX-60, I’ve jumped into the CX-5 for its final couple of weeks before returning to Mazda.

I feel prehistoric. I’ve been driving PHEVs and then full electric for the past 18 months, so returning to a 2.2-litre diesel car is a step backwards.

Fleets clearly agree. Of the 3,600 CX-5s registered in the first eight months of the year, just 543 went to the business sector (accounting for 18% of Mazda’s total fleet volumes), down 30% year-on-year. That’s after a bright start to the year where, at the end of Q1, sales were up 49% in fleet.

Not that the CX-5 isn’t a decent car; as previous tester Mike Roberts says, it’s highly practical and packed with equipment, with a high-quality interior, albeit with a slightly staid design. The dial-operated multimedia system is great to use and the sat-nav is much improved over previous Mazda models.

The SkyActivD engine promises 50.4mpg and it completely delivers. Our test average over six months was 50.2mpg. The ride is firm but comfortable, and the CX-5 handles well with nicely weighted steering. Despite the size, it’s a relaxing experience around town.

A big plus is the automatic locking function as you walk away from the car.

There are foibles, including the fact the electronic handbrake does not automatically engage when you switch off the engine; related to this, the handbrake hold function resets to ‘off’ for every new journey.

In addition, the key fob is one of those annoying ones with the buttons on the edge rather than on the wide bit. It becomes a bit fiddly to use and is also ultra-sensitive as I found out when leaving the house to find the boot lid wide open. Unbeknown to me, I’d inadvertently nudged the button while juggling handfuls of shopping.

Overall, if electric still makes you nervous, or doesn’t meet your drivers’ journey profiles, the Mazda CX-5 is an SUV worth considering. But for me, I can’t wait to switch to the CX-60.

Stephen Briers

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Family friendly

A long weekend away to Norfolk recently allowed us to fully the test the practical merits of our long-term Mazda CX-5, including boot space and comfort levels for three adults and two children.

One party member is a toddler and as an any parent knows the sheer amount of paraphernalia required even just for a four-day break can be immense – buggy, travel cot, bottles, bags nappies, a mountain of wipes etc.

I’m pleased to say after a couple of minutes of configuration the Mazda swallowed this and everyone else’s one bag easily. However, a stray bag handle prevented the electronically operated boot from closing properly and despite numerous pressings of the button it then wouldn’t work at all. What could have turned into a pre-holiday disaster was quickly resolved with a quick flick through the manual and use of a flat-headed screwdriver to release the catch.

The journey to and from our holiday accommodation was a relaxed affair, we were in no hurry after all and some of the Fen roads heading to the coast are littered with potholes, so best treated with caution. The Mazda’s suspension performed brilliantly – no-one’s head banged against the roof. Cruising along main and then more winding rural roads as we journeyed into the county was a stress-free affair, it’s a car suitable for all types of driving.

Once outside our holiday cottage, I opened the boot ready to unpack. But it didn’t open fully, stopping hallway between boot lip and roof. It was enough to unload but had I broken it, I worried? A chat with a colleague a few days later informed me that boot opening on many new cars can be set to driver preference and that I must have reset when pressing the button trying to get it work. Thankfully, this is a function of the CX-5 and after a long press of the button (wait for the beeps) full opening resumed. Phew!

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Plenty of technology

With no fully electric or plug-in hybrid variant available, a company car driver choosing the Mazda CX-5 either covers high-mileage on a regular basis or is unable to easily charge.

For 2022, this family SUV has undergone a few nips and tucks, getting new lights and front and rear bumpers and tweaks to the ride and handling. It’s a good-looking car and offers much to the driver, with easy to reach controls and a premium-feel cabin.

For company drivers the 2.2-litre manual diesel in Sport trim is the best choice in the range and it’s the one we’re testing here.

It provides comfortable motorway cruising, aided by adaptive cruise control and it’s high-riding position, and is also fun to drive on country lanes, sticking to the ground when cornering.

There are plenty of gadgets to keep the technophiles happy and the automatic main beam function is among the best I’ve tried – detecting oncoming traffic in a flash.

There’s also the function of having the car lock itself as you walk away, useful when exiting holding sunglasses case, wallet and other bits and pieces.

My next task is to see if I can stop the radio coming on every time I start the car.

Our car’s on-the-road price is £32,790, up from the standard price of £32,210 because of the addition of grey metallic paint.

In a four-trim range (SE-L, Newground, Sport and GT Sport), equipment highlights of the CX-5 on test, over and above the Newground, include a reversing camera, powered boot, heated front seats and steering wheel, Qi wireless phone charging and a 10-speaker Bose surround sound system.

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A car suitable for all types of driving

A long weekend away to Norfolk recently allowed us to fully the test the practical merits of our long-term Mazda CX-5, including boot space and comfort levels for three adults and two children.

One party member is a toddler and as an any parent knows the sheer amount of paraphernalia required even just for a four-day break can be immense – buggy, travel cot, bottles, bags nappies, a mountain of wipes etc.

I’m pleased to say after a couple of minutes of configuration the Mazda swallowed this and everyone else’s one bag easily. However, a stray bag handle prevented the electronically operated boot from closing properly and despite numerous pressings of the button it then wouldn’t work at all. What could have turned into a pre-holiday disaster was quickly resolved with a quick flick through the manual and use of a flat-headed screwdriver to release the catch.

The journey to and from our holiday accommodation was a relaxed affair, we were in no hurry after all and some of the Fen roads heading to the coast are littered with potholes, so best treated with caution. The Mazda’s suspension performed brilliantly – no-one’s head banged against the roof. Cruising along main and then more winding rural roads as we journeyed into the county was a stress-free affair, it’s a car suitable for all types of driving.

Once outside our holiday cottage, I opened the boot ready to unpack. But it didn’t open fully, stopping hallway between boot lip and roof. It was enough to unload but had I broken it, I worried? A chat with a colleague a few days later informed me that boot opening on many new cars can be set to driver preference and that I must have reset when pressing the button trying to get it work. Thankfully, this is a function of the CX-5 and after a long press of the button (wait for the beeps) full opening resumed. Phew!

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Diesel is the best choice for fleets

Company car drivers wanting to go electric will have to look elsewhere in the Mazda range but for those determined to get behind the wheel of a CX-5 the best choice is the model we’re testing here: the 2.2-litre manual diesel in Sport trim.

It offers the most efficient diesel engine on offer, the Skyactiv-D 150PS front-wheel-drive unit, emitting 147g/km CO2 and a combined 50.4mpg.

Standard equipment in the CX-5 range is impressive and includes front and rear parking sensors, LED lights, reclining rear seats, climate control air-con, rain-sensing wipers, leather steering wheel, radar cruise control, blind spot monitoring and lane-keep assist.

Sport trim also gets a reversing camera, power-assisted tailgate, keyless entry, heated front seats, wireless phone charging and a great sounding 10-speaker Bose system.

Our model also boasts active driving projected onto the windscreen, allowing the driver to check their speed or follow turn-by-turn navigation instructions while focusing on the road ahead. I worried it could be a distraction but quickly found this wasn’t the case at all.

All models in the range, which was given a mild facelift for 2022, get a dash-mounted multimedia screen as standard which is intuitive to use and operated using a dial rather than by touch, avoiding unsightly fingerprints on the screen.

The car’s interior has an upmarket feel with sturdy switches and neat trim finishes. Space is generous for front and rear passengers and the reclining rear seats provide extra comfort. There’s a pull-down arm rest in the rear with two cup holders, a small storage area and USB charging hubs.

Boot space is ample, 510 litres with the seats in place, or an impressive 1,626 litres with them down.

The Mazda is fun to drive and cabin noise quiet, even on motorway journeys. Our car’s on-the-road price is £32,790, up from the standard price of £32,210 by the addition of grey metallic paint.

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Higher BiK but more peace of mind

With CO2 emissions of 147g/km, a 40% taxpayer choosing our latest Mazda CX-5 test car would pay £374 a month in benefit-in-kind – significantly higher than for a colleague in an electric and or plug-in hybrid company car.

But there are many circumstances when electric isn’t the answer, not until the public charging infrastructure greatly improves for example. I’m one of the estimated 40% of households who can’t plug in regularly to maximise fuel economy and ensure I have enough charge for regular trips as I don’t have suitable driveway parking.

It’s a frustrating situation for many high-mileage drivers who want to do their bit for the environment, but also want assurances that their company vehicle will get them from A-B and back again with no issues.

If you have no option but to go for the internal combustion engine, then ensure the Mazda makes it onto your shortlist, as early impressions of this attractive mid-size SUV are very positive indeed.

Standard equipment is already comprehensive and there are few additions added to our trim level (Sport) that I’m looking forward to exploring over the coming months. Hopefully heated seats and heated steering wheel won’t be among them.

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Mazda CX-5 2.2d Sport joins our fleet

Mazda announced an upgrade to the CX-5 in October and Fleet News is now going to be driving the 2022-model SUV for the next few months.

It’s an important car for the brand. Since the original CX-5 was launched in 2012, more than 70,000 CX-5s have been sold in the UK and it accounts for about a quarter of the brand’s sales.

With deliveries having started in January, the new model appears to be resonating in the fleet market. Registrations this year to the end of February were 230% up on 2021 to 218 units, according to Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ data.

It was Mazda’s most successful model in the fleet market that month with 91 models registered, ahead of the Mazda 3, with 51 units.

Total fleet registrations of the outgoing model, in comparison, for the whole of 2021 were 928.

Our model is the 2.2-litre manual diesel in Sport trim. It’s P11D price is £31,935 in the range of diesels available valued between £29,335 and £38,435.

It has the most efficient diesel engine on offer, the Skyactiv-D 150PS front-wheel-drive unit, emitting 147g/km CO2 and a combined 50.4mpg.

A more powerful 184PS engine is also available with all-wheel-drive, with CO2 emissions of 147g/km with manual transmission, moving up to 173g/km when you opt for automatic. Fuel efficiency for the 184PS diesel models is 50.4mpg at best and worst at 42.8mpg, again for the automatic transmission.

Our car’s on-the-road price is £32,790, up from the standard price of £32,210 by the addition of grey metallic paint.

In a four-trim range ( SE-L, Newground, Sport and GT Sport), equipment highlights of the CX-5 on test, over and above the Newground, include a reversing camera, powered boot, heated front seats and steering wheel, Qi wireless phone charging and a 10-speaker Bose surround sound system.